Enlarging easel supporting means



Jan. 24, 1950 H. A. A. A. DE GRAMONT DE GUICHE 2,495,510

ENLARGING EASEL SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Oct. 18, 1946 flu.) diiomey..

Patented Jan. 24, 1950 ENLARGING EASEL SUPPORTING MEANS Henri Agnor Armand Antoine de Gramont de Guiche, Levallois-Perret, France, assignor to Optique et Precision de Levallois, Levallois- Perret, France, a company of France Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 703,935 In France April 5, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires April 5, 1964 4 Claims. (01. 8824) The present invention relates to photographic equipment, and more particularly to an easel or framing device for holding sensitized paper or other light sensitive material in the plane of the image of an enlarging apparatus.

In many cases the present framing devices are rigidly secured to the enlarging table and thus it is often impossible to use such framing means with an enlarging apparatus built by a different maker than the one who has built the apparatus for which the framing device is intended.

My invention has for its object a framing device adapted for operation with any enlarging apparatus whatever. It has the advantage of allowing an extremely easy displacement over the enlarging table so as to allow a proper framing, while it is capable of being immediately secured to the position assigned thereto, which allows executing the enlarging operation.

To this end, the underside of the framing device is provided with rubber pads preventing any sliding and ensuring a sort of rigid connection between it and the table. On the other hand, one or more small dome-shaped members also located underneath the framing means may be lowered so as to bear against the table and to release the pads on the table whereby the framing means are released and may be brought into any desired position after which the dome or domes, once retracted inside the lower surface of the framing device, allow the latter to rest again on the table through the rubber pads while the weight of the framing deviceprovides again the adherence between the pad and the table and the fastening of the framing device.

Further features of the framing means according to my invention will appear from the reading of the following description and from the examination of accompanying drawing relating to a form of execution chosen by way of example.

Fig. 1. is a plan view from above of the whole framing device.

Fig. 2 is an elevational lateral view thereof through one of its long sides.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the caster.

The framing device includes a lower rectangular plate I to which may be pivotally secured a frame 3 which may be metallic for instance. Underneath the plate I are arranged rubber pads 5. It has been assumed in the present case that said pads lie along diagonal lines of the rectangle but obviously they may be given another location. At the center of the plate is formed a small dome shaped caster 6 which is normally disposed in retracted position within a socket like aperture provided in the lower part of the plate I and formed in the projection on which may act a bevelled edge provided at the end of a bar I sliding horizontally inside said plate I and carrying at its other end a handle 3. It is apparent that if the handle 8 is pushed in, the bevelled end of the bar 1 causes the dome shaped member 6 to project underneath the plate I and the latter bearing against the table carrying the plate will raise the pads 5 and allow consequently a displacement of the plate over the table.

Along the long and short sides of the frame 3 may move the four corresponding rulers 9, l0, H, [.2 allowing the framing of the picture, said rules being carried through the agency of ball or roller bearings. Moreover, the plate I carries on its upper surface marks which correspond to the different usual sizes of photographs and suitable scales l3. One of the rulers ii] is rigid with a slider [4 provided with a handle [5 allowing the raising of the frame 3 through a pivoting motion round the axis 2.

What I claim is:

1. An easel for use with a photographic enlarger, comprising a substantially rectangular fiat base member, a marginal frame disposed against one side of said base member, non-skid means secured to the other side of said base member for normal support thereof on any fiat surface, a single friction caster means arranged for movement along a vertical axis in a socketlike aperture disposed substantially at the center of said base member, and a manual actuator extending substantially in the plane of said base from one edge thereof toward said caster means for operative engagement therewith, whereby said actuator upon operation thereof effects a movement of said caster means out of said aperture to cause a disengagement of said nonskid means from any supporting surface and an engagement thereby with said caster.

2. An easel according to claim 1, wherein said non-skid means comprises a plurality of rubber pads or the like disposed around said caster means and substantially peripherally with respect to said base.

3. An easel according to claim 2, wherein said caster means comprises a plunger-like member having a dome shaped head.

l. An easel according to claim 3, wherein said actuator comprises a rod-like member having a handle and a wedge-formed tip extending to en gage a coacting surface of said caster, whereby 3 4 movement of said actuator toward said caster will UNITED STATES PATENTS cause movement of the caster out of said aper- Number Name Date ture to engage the supporting surface and effect 1 426 327 mifiany w J g 15 2 substantial disengagementof saiil'pads from said Lundf" 1943 surface. I 1

p HENRI AGENOR ARMAND ANTOINE n1: FOREIGN PATENTS GRAMONT DEGUIGHE. Nurnbon Country Date REFERENCES IT 9 1 09 Great Britain Dec. 29, 1938 The following references 'aLr-edf "record it1""the' i0 file of this patent: 

